Zazzle sponsors Bay to Breakers

Published 4:00 am, Friday, March 18, 2011

Supervisor Scott Wiener attends a Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011.

Supervisor Scott Wiener attends a Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Zazzle sponsors Bay to Breakers

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It looks like the Bay to Breakers will be around for at least two years. And you can add Zazzle to the official name.

The only-in-San Francisco footrace and costume party was heading into its 100th anniversary on May 15 without a title sponsor, with residents along the route increasingly frustrated by drunken participants and with significant changes planned for this year, including a ban on floats and a clampdown on drinking.

On top of that, race organizers say they have been losing money. The question hovering over San Francisco's signature race was whether it would survive once the hype of the centennial receded.

Well, organizers don't have to worry about that title sponsor anymore. Redwood City's Zazzle, which operates a website that allows customers to personalize everything from T-shirts to iPhone cases, will announce today a two-year sponsorship of the race, City Insider has learned.

"As an event, it's kind of the epitome of self expression, and that's what our website is all about empowering," said 31-year-old Zazzle co-founder and Chief Product Officer Jeff Beaver, who lives in the city, grew up on the Peninsula and has run Bay to Breakers several times.

Sam Singer, a spokesman for race organizers, called the sponsorship deal "vitally important for the future of the race."

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Beaver said the amount to get his company's name added to the race title for two years is "significant."

The race gets national exposure, though, and there is the personal connection.

Instead, the moderate-controlled committee pushed one of their own for that spot, freshman Supervisor Scott Wiener.

Wiener was lauded by Supervisors Sean Elsberndand Mark Farrell. Elsbernd also noted Wiener's focus on transportation and promoted the idea that Wiener potentially could serve eight years on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area's key transportation funding agency, and move up the leadership ranks there.

Campos, elected supervisor in 2008, potentially has six years left in office before he'd be termed out.

Left unsaid were the political differences.

Campos is a leading voice for the board's progressives.

Traditionally, supervisors are appointed to outside boards based on their seniority.

Supervisor Jane Kim, who chairs the Rules Committee, supported Campos, but a formal vote to recommend Wiener for the Metropolitan Transportation Committee spot could not be taken because his name wasn't on the agenda. It probably will be done at the next meeting, then the full board will take up the appointment.

It's likely that Campos' name will be thrown back in the mix. City insiders say no one has the six votes needed for approval; nominees cannot vote for themselves.

Party in the stacks: As the city's libraries complete their transformation into places for more than quiet reading, fundraisers thought it was about time some of their events got a modern makeover too.

What did they come up with? Food (Ike's Place sandwiches), drinks (alcoholic), music (soul and '60s) and a sassy librarian photo booth. When and where? Today from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at a library. That's right, a library.

The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library is holding its first-ever after-hours cocktail party, Imbibe, at the renovated Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial branch, 1 Jose Sarria Court.

" 'Imbibe' means taking it all in, and libraries are a place for so many different kinds of experiences," said Anne Wintroub, deputy director for Friends.

Guests will also get to boogie and chat with literary figures like Beth Lisick, who runs the Porchlight storytelling series, and author Jack Boulware. Friends members and people who buy a membership starting at $35 will receive free admission, while others can pay $20 at the door.

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